Fire extinguisher

[Meadows11]

Bought a new x23b in 2013.... How long are the fire extinguishers good for? Do we ever need to replace them? Also, do you take them out when you winterize?

[Sundancer330]

They can last 5-15 years, depends how fast it loses pressure, if the needle is in the green you are ok. They are rated to work from -65 to 150 so no need to remove for winter.

[clubhouse]

That's a great question. I have never looked at mine close enough to confirm there is even a gauge on it.

Added to my to do list.

I do check my home and vehicle extinguishers regularly. Not sure why I haven't looked at the one in my TT.

[Meadows11]

Thank you! I own a business and by law I have them re-charged each year in our store.... Went camping over the weekend and saw ours hanging there in the camper and wondered about it.

[Tex1961]

Usually you'll find two types. With the pressure gauge and with a little green button on top. The one with the little button on top doesn't have a gauge but if you press the little button and it comes back up that means there is still pressure and that is should still be in good working order.

[SmokerBill]

The extinguishers I have are the dry powder type. They require maintenance- you have to whack the bottom with a rubber mallet a few times, several times a year. Otherwise the powder compresses into a lump and won't discharge properly. I imagine bouncing around in an RV makes the powder settle faster and compact more tightly. You're supposed to be able to feel or hear the powder moving when you rotate the extinguisher top to bottom. If not, it should be replaced.

Safety tip for the day.

[clubhouse]

This post made me run out and check...as Tex described I have a green button on top.

Bill, wasn't aware of the powder settling, I'll have to check that now.

I did a brief google search and learned that inside an RV we should have BC type extinguishers. I assumed the ABC like in my home would be better, but I guess BC are non-toxic and ABC are toxic and corrosive.

Going to poke around a bit more on this topic, but thanks again to the OP for asking and the others for the information. Again, something I hadn't thought much about before but probably should from now on. A fire in a RV could get out of controll very quickly.